ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Can I firstly just make some comments about Tropical Cyclone Fina. Category 2, it's expected to impact the Tiwis and Darwin, and NEMA is monitoring the situation closely and my Government is working with the Northern Territory Government. We stand ready to provide whatever assistance is necessary. My thoughts are with the people in that area and I urge everyone to look after not just themselves, but I know they'll be looking after each other. Last Christmas day I spent was the anniversary of Cyclone Tracy, and that was a big moment for the Northern Territory, and my thoughts are with people at this time and also with the emergency service workers and others who will be working hard, whether they be in the Northern Territory or at the headquarters there in Canberra.
Can I say, it's been an incredible honour to be here at Freedom Park, to have three great Australians added to the Wall of Remembrance here in honour of their contribution to the struggle for freedom and democracy here in South Africa and against the abhorrent apartheid regime. Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke both as prime ministers were courageous, were principled, and took important action in banning sporting contests, in making sure as well that trade and economic sanctions were put in place against the apartheid regime. And of course, Bob Hawke as trade union leader was a very significant leader during the Springbok tour of 1971, which saw Australians demonstrate so strongly against those sporting ties on the basis of a sporting organisation that -- then, the Springboks that were selected, of course, on the basis of race. So these Australians, along with the former diplomat, Bruce Haigh, who assisted people to get out of South Africa to safety and who was so strong in his representation while he was here at the High Commission. These three Australians we can all be proud of in standing up for those Australian values of equality and freedom and justice and decency. These three Australians have been honoured today and I thank very much the people here at Freedom Park for giving these Australians this honour.
Today, I'll be having some bilateral meetings in the lead-up to the G20, including with the President of South Africa, the Prime Minister of India, and the leadership of the European Union as well as the Taoiseach of Ireland as well. Tomorrow there will be a range of meetings as well with the formal proceedings of the G20 commencing. The G20 matters. The G20 represents 85 per cent of the global economy, 75 per cent of global trade. And because Australia is very much an economy that depends upon trade, one in four of our jobs is trade connected, it's an important opportunity at this time of considerable global economic uncertainty to engage with our trading partners in Europe, in Asia, in the Americas, to advance Australia's national interest. And that's what I'll be doing over the next couple of days. Happy to take some questions.
JOURNALIST: In your discussions with Europe, how close is Australia to landing this free trade deal?
PRIME MINISTER: Well it won't be finalised today, that's for sure. But we are closer than we were before as a result of the meetings that Don Farrell, our minister, has had. So, it'll be an opportunity for me to have discussions with Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa when we meet in a few hours' time to see if we can just edge that little bit closer. The Europeans are finalising an agreement that they have in place with South American countries, and that is a priority between now and the end of the year. But what I'd like to see is it finalised in the first quarter of 2026. This would be very important. The agreement with the UK has brought great benefit to Australia. The other agreements that we've managed to put in place, including the agreement with the UAE has opened up those Middle East markets for Australia and an agreement with the EU, a lot of the issues have been resolved. There's still a couple that we need to finalise, but I think that free and fair trade is very much in Australia's national interests.
JOURNALIST: What are these issues that are yet to be –
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll work them through and the way that we're successful is to work them through diplomatically, and we'll continue to engage constructively.
JOURNALIST: Is it about our beef quotas?
PRIME MINISTER: We'll continue to engage constructively. There's a range of issues around agriculture. One of the things that we've done as well, is we only sign up to agreements that are in Australia's national interest. Now, we got close during the last term of government. We didn't believe the deal was good enough, so we didn't sign it. So, if we can get a deal that is in Australia's national interest as well as in the interest of the European Union, then we will agree to it.
JOURNALIST: PM, there is speculation maybe during the last lot of negotiations that Australia might be willing to lower or remove its luxury car tax, which of course affects a lot of European vehicles, in exchange for a deal with the EU. Is that still something that's under consideration?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, we'll discuss the range of issues and we'll do that in the way that we engage diplomatically. I think we've been --
JOURNALIST: So, that's something you're open to?
PRIME MINISTER: I think we've been quite successful at not ruling things in or out at press conferences, but engaging in a respectful way with our partners. That's how we get things done. And if you look at the record that my Government has of breaking new relationships with countries as well as working closely with our traditional allies like the United States and the United Kingdom, we've been successful because we understand the way that diplomacy works. Sometimes, I know that means that we don't answer everything in detail at press conferences, because that's showing respect to the partners who we're engaged with.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, it seems Donald Trump is leading a US boycott of the summit. A US official may now attend. Is this a welcome development from Australia's perspective?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, the G20 is an important meeting. Those decisions are matters for the United States, but clearly this is the 20 largest economies in the world. It's an opportunity to advance the national interests of all of the nations who participate. And that is why from Australia's perspective we're here and it's important that the G20 be a success as well. This is a G20 being held in Africa, also sends a message to the African continent. If we have a look at global population and what's happening, the workforce overwhelmingly in coming decades, the global workforce, because of the demographics that are occurring here in Africa, this continent will be more and more important in the future. And that just is another reason why we need to engage with them. And I of course encourage all countries to participate.
JOURNALIST: Will there be a leader's statement at the end of this summit?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's a matter for -- obviously, South Africa are the chair of the G20. We'll wait and see --
JOURNALIST: Because the US has said it's opposed to a leader's statement. Would you support a leader's statement?
PRIME MINISTER: We'll wait and see. The thing about these statements is that obviously Australia will participate, as we do, constructively in all these forums. But usually it is by consensus before a statement can be issued. And that means that often you have a chair's statement. Wouldn't be the first time that that's happened.
JOURNALIST: Can I ask you about a domestic issue? And we've seen the AFP arrest three men including a neo-Nazi after allegedly threatening federal MPs and public officeholders. Is there any more information you can give us about this and can we get your reaction to this?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, this is a serious issue. I can't go into all of the detail, but I've been briefed certainly by the AFP, in part because they've been a range of issues, some of which have been reported, on court processes that have involved myself. I have spoken about the increase in threats which are there. There is no place in Australia for the sort of threats of violence that we have seen. It is an unfortunate characteristic. One of the great things about being Australia's Prime Minister is being able to go to a local shopping centre, to be able to engage, as I try to do, as much as possible. But increasingly there are very real and various serious threats. The AFP only take actions and arrest people if they are matters that need to be taken seriously. And certainly the events, some of which, the detailed events that I've been briefed on, of course are ones that have involved myself. I can certainly confirm one of the arrests that occurred recently in New South Wales did involve that. And that means that you need to be conscious of that. And my security team certainly are of that as well. The involvement of course of neo-Nazis, I've commented on that. There's no place for political engagement based upon racial hatred. And here of all places, where we're today commemorating the struggle of those who campaigned against a regime that was racist in its nature, the apartheid regime is just a reminder of where this takes us. It drives down dignity and humanity for all of us. And I just thank and congratulate the AFP who do a fantastic job.
JOURNALIST: Are you confident the Quad has a future under the Trump presidency?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, I think the Quad's an important body. The United States, Japan, and India. I'll be having discussions with Prime Minister Modi this afternoon. India is due to host the Quad and I'd be very hopeful that the Quad will be hosted in India next year. Australia will always participate in it. I'll be talking with the new Japanese Prime Minister as well over the next couple of days. She's someone who's very warm about Australia, as is Prime Minister Modi. And of course I have a good, positive relationship with President Trump as well. So, I'd be hopeful that the Quad meeting takes place in the first quarter next year.
JOURNALIST: Does it worry you, though, that these multilateral forums that are very important to Australia, G20 and the Quad, that President Trump is increasingly rejecting them?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, my job is to represent Australia's interests, and we continue to participate constructively. We engage in bilateral forums, but you need multilateral forums as well where you get that engagement across the board. And that is why the G20 is so important. Thanks very much.